Just one look

It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. – 2 Samuel 11v1-2

I preached a message on the account of David and Bathsheba about a month ago. I am not good at sermon titles. I never can get those catchy pithy names that stick in people’s minds. My working title for 2 Samuel 11 was ‘Lessons from David and Bathsheba.’ Exciting stuff, huh?

So I did the modern thing – I asked for suggestions on Facebook. I came up with a couple – ‘David’s Fatal Attraction’ and ‘Looking for Trouble’ were a couple of good ones.

But it was Holly’s mom Debbie who sent the winning suggestion. She suggested that I sing the title – ‘Just one look, that’s all it took was just one look.’ I loved it. Hence, the title of today’s thought.

I happened in the spring of the year. It was time for battle. The word of God points that out. I don’t think this was just a mention of the timing, but to point out where the king of Israel was when the other kings were out to war.

Where was our noble king? He was at home in the palace. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong attitudes and the wrong desires.

He took an evening along the rooftops. There was nothing unusual about that. Nearby, Bathsheba was in her garden bathing, nothing unusual about that either. Perhaps she should have been more modest. Perhaps David should have avoided walking the rooftops when he knew people would be bathing, but I don’t think that is the real issue here. The issue was not the circumstances, but the attitude of David.

David noticed Bathsheba bathing. Sadly, all it took to get him distracted was just this one look. He noticed that not only was she naked, but she was very beautiful.

At this stage David had a choice. He could avert his eyes and keep on going, or he could pursue the matter further. We are going to discover that he made the wrong choice. More on that later.

We all face the same choice when evil appears in our live of sight. We can’t help encountering it. What matters is what we do next.

God of course gives us the answer. Abstain at every appearance of evil. When evil appears, turn away, run, avert your eyes, don’t give in.

David ignored the right thing. The consequences would be devastating. The same is true for us when we give in to the appearance of evil.

‘Just one look – that’s all it took.’